Aviation Discussion

[Techniquest]

I bet it does for overall enjoyment! An ATR-72 will also be a welcome addition to my books!

 

[Airline Man]

I've flown to Barra, where the aircraft lands on the beach (when the tide is out, obviously). You can watch and chat to the pilots whilst on a clear day you fly over the tops of the mountains. The scenery is spectacular in the Highlands & Islands. The flight to Barra is a classic and is a must for any aviation enthusiast.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Never mind an A380......

Twin Otter beats it hands down

I see the A380 and see the Twin Otter

And raise you an Avro Lancaster

 

[Bald Rick]

I've flown to Barra, where the aircraft lands on the beach (when the tide is out, obviously). You can watch and chat to the pilots whilst on a clear day you fly over the tops of the mountains. The scenery is spectacular in the Highlands & Islands. The flight to Barra is a classic and is a must for any aviation enthusiast.

I'll see your Barra, and raise you a Papa Westray to Westray.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I raise you a flight deck visit at Mach 2 on G-BOAG

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I raise you a flight deck visit at Mach 2 on G-BOAG

Raise you a visit to the cockpit of PA474 in flight

Women and wimps fly commercial... Real men fly Lancs

 

[Airline Man]

I raise you a flight deck visit at Mach 2 on G-BOAG

I've done that one Peter!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I've done that one Peter!

I prefered Alpha Charlie, myself

 

[Airline Man]

This was G-BOAE. I get your reference to AC.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

This was G-BOAE. I get your reference to AC.

I know that... Got to love Alpha Charlie - only Concorde I boarded and also the pride of the fleet!

 

[Harbornite]

I know that... Got to love Alpha Charlie - only Concorde I boarded and also the pride of the fleet!

Wasn't it the pride of the fleet because its reg is the initials of BA's predecessor, British overseas airways corporation?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Wasn't it the pride of the fleet because its reg is the initials of BA's predecessor, British overseas airways corporation?

Affirm...

Just for the hell of it, I'm going to say as much as possible in aviation speak. I'm a warship - its what i do

 

[Harbornite]

Affirm

Gotcha. The closest I've been to Concorde is the prototype at Duxford. I had a look inside it during the American Air day back in 2010.

 

[Techniquest]

Closest I've got to a Concorde is to the one on Intrepid in New York. Wish I'd been able to get on it for the tour!

 

[jopsuk]

Gotcha. The closest I've been to Concorde is the prototype at Duxford. I had a look inside it during the American Air day back in 2010.

Don't call it a prototype in hearing range of the staff. It's a Pre-production one, not a prototype!


I've been inside that one, and the one at East Fortune. But never one outside

 

[Harbornite]

Don't call it a prototype in hearing range of the staff. It's a Pre-production one, not a prototype!


I've been inside that one, and the one at East Fortune. But never one outside

I only realised that after googling it but I couldn't be arsed to edit the post. What counts is that it's related to the production Concorde.

 

[randyrippley]

Don't call it a prototype in hearing range of the staff. It's a Pre-production one, not a prototype!


I've been inside that one, and the one at East Fortune. But never one outside

the prototype is at Yeovilton - 002

 

[anme]

However, for a 747 you could try New York return, or I think they still go Accra etc. Ex-Dub a return can be had for not very much money at all. Pick your flight carefully out of London for the 747.

The A380 is quite a bird, though I wouldn't go a trip specifically to fly one.

Indeed, but when I'm booking a route which has A380 flights available, I try to use them. It's just so much quieter; can be the difference between 30 minutes or 5 hours sleep on a long flight.

At the other end of the spectrum, I avoid United's ancient 747s at (almost) all costs...

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Indeed, but when I'm booking a route which has A380 flights available, I try to use them. It's just so much quieter; can be the difference between 30 minutes or 5 hours sleep on a long flight.

At the other end of the spectrum, I avoid United's ancient 747s at (almost) all costs...

But United's 747s have, I think in the front row of standard class, a little headphone jack for when the FAA inspector comes to check the aircraft

 

[anme]

But United's 747s have, I think in the front row of standard class, a little headphone jack for when the FAA inspector comes to check the aircraft

Oh yes? What's it for?
You can listen into the cockpit radio on a United 747 (although the pilots often switch it off). You can also enjoy "big screen" entertainment - seat back TVs are not available.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Oh yes? What's it for?
You can listen into the cockpit radio on a United 747 (although the pilots often switch it off). You can also enjoy "big screen" entertainment - seat back TVs are not available.

Its a channel that can't be turned off - basically the FAA inspector sits back and listens to the pilots as they put the plane through its paces. Its a different system to the pilot-ATC channel that passengers can listen to

 

[anme]

Its a channel that can't be turned off - basically the FAA inspector sits back and listens to the pilots as they put the plane through its paces. Its a different system to the pilot-ATC channel that passengers can listen to

Do you have a reference for this? The only one I could find using Google was on this very page.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Do you have a reference for this? The only one I could find using Google was on this very page.

Sure - let me find it

 

[Robertj21a]

Paris to Cairo plane (Egyptair) missing according to BBC.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It's an A320, registration SU-GCC, according to the BBC News website.

 

[theageofthetra]

Sadly confirmed lost by an Airbus source. Sorry can't post link. Thoughts with all involved.

 

[Airline Man]

I've been in the airline industry for thirty plus years and my thoughts are...

Modern aircraft just don't fall out of the sky and the A320 had an excellent safety record. Whatever happened was 'catastrophic' as the pilots didn't have time to put out a distress call. Most mechanical failures don't cause an aircraft to disappear that quickly, there would have been some time before the crash. Security at Paris is red hot. It is unlikely a passenger could have got something through security or into hold baggage.

There are gaps in airport security, you can never eliminate the risk just make it as difficult as possible. Most scenarios involve a knowledge of airport procedures and layouts and the 'help' of complicit or most likely dozy staff. I have found passengers wandering behind the scenes at Heathrow, although not in a secure area because a staff member has failed to check a door has been closed behind them and a passenger following them thinking the toilets are nearby.

The aircraft had been to Asmara in Eritrea and Tunis before flying between Paris and Cairo, possibly just possibly something could have been put on board in these places.

The crew fly behind bullet proof, reinforced doors with two crew on the flight deck at all times, there have been unconfirmed reports of some kind of struggle on the flight deck, this could be a suicide-murder event again, it has happened before with Egyptair.

This may sound controversial but sometimes I'm more worried about the airport and airline staff than the behaviour from passengers. I'm a customer services manager with a well known Heathrow based airline and have had to raise concerns to the BAA about some of things staff and myself have overheard from other staff, particularly airport security. The response from the BAA 'we know, and we're watching them'.

Whilst all airport staff go through strict security vetting, nothing stops anyone from getting an airside pass as long as they pass their criminal record checks, they can still hold extreme views and work at an airport.

As I said, these are just my initial thoughts.

 

[Robertj21a]

From a number of reports there seems to have been a sudden turn, followed by another sudden turn, just a few minutes before contact was lost.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

The crew fly behind bullet proof, reinforced doors with two crew on the flight deck at all times, there have been unconfirmed reports of some kind of struggle on the flight deck, this could be a suicide-murder event again, it has happened before with Egyptair.

Are we looking at another GermanWings or EgyptAir Flight 990 event, do you think?

 

[Techniquest]

Heard about this when I got in from work. Incredibly horrid situation, and thoughts go out to all those affected.

Second incident for Egyptair this year I believe